Ascension
Ascension Recovery Services is the nation's first Substance Use Disorder Management Services Organization, providing end-to-end program development and operational management for SUD and behavioral health treatment programs across hospitals, tribal nations, cities, nonprofits, and investors in 35 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersMorgantown, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ascension does
Ascension Recovery Services (ARS), founded in 2013 by CEO Douglas Leech, is a behavioral health program development and management company operating as the nation's first Substance Use Disorder Management Services Organization (SUD-MSO). Headquartered in Orlando, Florida with origins in Morgantown, West Virginia, ARS delivers end-to-end services that take substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral health programs from concept through operational reality — including feasibility studies, business planning, capital planning, facility development, licensing and accreditation, staffing, payer contracting, marketing, and ongoing operational management. The company operates across the full ASAM continuum of care (detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, general outpatient, and sober living) and has launched 80+ programs across 35 states, serving 10,000+ patients and managing 500+ licensed beds, with a 100% licensing and accreditation success rate and 85% client retention beyond initial engagement.
ARS's service portfolio is organized around two core offerings: Program Development (one-time consulting engagements to launch new treatment programs) and Program Management (recurring operational oversight, clinical excellence consultation, regulatory compliance, and performance optimization). The company serves five distinct customer verticals: hospitals and health systems seeking to expand behavioral health capacity and unlock new revenue streams; investors and developers repurposing real estate assets into treatment programs; tribal nations leveraging opioid settlement dollars for culturally aligned care; nonprofits requiring operational turnaround; and city governments addressing homelessness, addiction, and public safety at scale. Named customers and partners include WVU Medicine, Columbus Regional Health, Pawnee Nation, Indiana Treatment Centers, Nelson Construction & Development, Indiana Recovery Homes, ThriveNow Recovery Center, and WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.
Revenue derives from professional services fees on program development engagements and managed services fees on ongoing operational management, with pricing structured as quote-based, project-specific, multi-year arrangements. ARS's go-to-market is exclusively direct B2B enterprise selling — no resellers, marketplaces, or self-serve channels — targeting C-suite hospital leadership, tribal councils, municipal officials, and real estate investors. Capital intensity is a defining feature: ARS is backed by RCap Equity Partners and has facilitated $350M+ in private investment, $280M+ in real estate development, and $500M+ in client revenue across its 35-state footprint, supporting 2,000+ jobs created through partner programs.
Ascension firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ascension
- Legal name
- Ascension
- Website
- https://ascensionrs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ascension Recovery Services is the nation's first Substance Use Disorder Management Services Organization, providing end-to-end program development and operational management for SUD and behavioral health treatment programs across hospitals, tribal nations, cities, nonprofits, and investors in 35 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ascension industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Behavioral Health Services
- NAICS
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Programs (HLAFABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab) (HLAFACAE), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)
Keywords
Where Ascension is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Morgantown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ascension business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Program Development Consulting: ARS charges fees for program development services including feasibility studies, business planning, financial analysis, licensure and accreditation support, staffing, payer contracting, and operational management. The company provides end-to-end consulting from market analysis through program launch.
- Operational Management Services: Ongoing operational management and consultation services for partner behavioral health programs, including quality oversight, compliance infrastructure, and performance optimization.
- Clinical Services: Revenue generated through clinical placement services, interventions, ongoing monitoring, outpatient therapy, and substance use disorder treatment programs operated across partner organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom consulting and management arrangements based on program scope and service requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ascension product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ascension Recovery Services (ARS) operates as the nation's first Substance Use Disorder Management Services Organization (SUD-MSO), providing end-to-end behavioral health program development and management services. The company helps partners conceptualize, launch, and operate substance use disorder treatment programs spanning the full continuum of care, including detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, general outpatient, and sober living, by integrating capital planning, facility development, licensure and accreditation, staffing, payer contracting, marketing, and ongoing operational management.
Product overview
Ascension Recovery Services is a behavioral health program development and management company operating as the nation's first Substance Use Disorder Management Services Organization (SUD-MSO). The company offers end-to-end support across capital planning, facility development, licensure and accreditation, staffing, payer contracting, marketing, and operational management. Their core services include Program Development and Program Management, which together help partners launch and operate the full SUD treatment continuum spanning detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, general outpatient, and sober living. Projects span more than 80 organizations across 35 states, supporting every level of care including Residential Treatment Centers, Intensive Outpatient Programs, Partial Hospitalization Programs, Sober Living Homes, and hospital-based treatment lines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Program Development Services Comprehensive program development services for launching substance use disorder and behavioral health treatment programs, including feasibility studies, business planning, financial analysis, licensure, staffing, and operational launch support.
- Program Management Services Ongoing operational management and consulting for behavioral health programs, including clinical excellence consultation, regulatory compliance, and performance optimization.
- Inpatient/Residential Treatment Operations Development and operation of residential substance use disorder treatment facilities providing 24-hour care with evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
- Partial Hospitalization & Outpatient Treatment Operations Day treatment and intensive outpatient programs providing structured therapeutic care while allowing patients to return home at the end of each day.
- Recovery Housing & Community Based Care Structured sober living environments and community-based recovery support services that help individuals transition from treatment back into independent living.
- Specialized Program Operations Development of specialized behavioral health programs tailored to specific populations or treatment modalities including medication-assisted treatment, trauma-informed care, and co-occurring disorder programs.
- SUD Continuum of Care Services Full spectrum of substance use disorder treatment services including detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, general outpatient, and sober living, following ASAM criteria.
Quantifiable outcome
- 9-12 months average from design to first patient
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ascension
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Ascension technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Ascension partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship, core and exploratory.
- Indiana Recovery HomesmajorARS and Indiana Recovery Homes partnered with Columbus Regional Health to assume ownership and operations of CRH's Treatment and Support Center (TASC), creating a fully integrated continuum of care.
- Nelson Construction & DevelopmentmajorPartnership with Nelson Construction & Development and Indiana Treatment Centers to develop and open a new treatment center in Mishawaka, Indiana. Nelson provides facility development while ARS provides program development and management services.
- Pawnee NationflagshipDevelopment of a tribally-owned and operated detox and residential treatment facility on sovereign tribal land in Oklahoma. The facility integrates evidence-based treatment with culturally aligned recovery practices including sweat lodges and traditional healing programs. Financed through USDA loan guarantees, ARPA funds, New Market Tax Credits, and Native American Bank.
- WVU MedicinecoreARS worked with WVU Medicine to develop the WVU Medicine Center for Hope and Healing, a comprehensive addiction treatment facility. Services included feasibility study, business planning, financial analysis, licensure, EPIC EHR implementation, staff training, and marketing support.
- Coalfield Development CorporationcorePartnership creating the 33-6-3-PLUS workforce re-employment initiative combining Coalfield's workforce development model with ARS's addiction treatment expertise and recovery monitoring approach.
- Columbus Regional HealthmajorPartnership spanning nearly a decade with Columbus Regional Health to develop and launch substance use disorder treatment services. Transitioning TASC to ARS and Indiana Recovery Homes management.
- West Virginia Sober Living (WVSL)coreWVSL provides peer recovery coaching and transitional living programs. Combined with ARS's clinical monitoring to create integrated recovery support services for the Reintegrate Appalachia initiative.
- WVU Health Sciences CentercoreWVU HSC provides startup seed funding, grant writing support, and research assistance for the Reintegrate Appalachia workforce development initiative targeting substance use disorder recovery and employment.
- West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience InstituteexploratoryARS is partnering with WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute to explore emerging treatment technologies including deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound therapies designed to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves14 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ascension competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Acadia Healthcare: Public, large-scale operator of behavioral health and substance use treatment facilities across the U.S. Comparable to ARS as a major incumbent addressing the same SUD treatment demand, though Acadia is a direct operator/owner rather than an MSO model.
- Universal Health Services (UHS) Behavioral Health Division: One of the largest publicly traded hospital and behavioral health operators, with a substantial SUD and psychiatric treatment footprint. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same end markets, though UHS operates as an owner rather than an MSO.
Direct peers
- Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Tier-one nonprofit SUD treatment provider and former employer of multiple ARS executives (Nick Motu, leadership pedigree). Directly comparable on mission, treatment modalities, and patient population; ARS leadership explicitly models aspects of its operating approach after Hazelden Betty Ford.
- Pyramid Healthcare: Multi-state provider of behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment across the full continuum (detox, residential, outpatient). Comparable to ARS in geographic dispersion, service mix, and reliance on health system and community partnerships.
- Bradford Health Services: Regional SUD treatment provider offering residential, outpatient, and recovery services across multiple Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Comparable to ARS in service portfolio and B2B partnership orientation with hospitals and employers.
- Caron Treatment Centers: Established nonprofit SUD treatment provider operating residential and outpatient programs with national reach. Comparable to ARS in mission alignment, full-continuum SUD services, and partnerships with health systems and donor-funded capital.
Emerging players
- BrightView Health: Outpatient-focused SUD treatment operator with a multi-state footprint emphasizing medication-assisted treatment. Comparable to ARS in targeting underserved populations and partnering with health systems, though BrightView operates clinics directly rather than via an MSO model.
- CleanSlate Centers: Multi-state outpatient SUD treatment provider specializing in office-based medication-assisted treatment. Comparable to ARS in its outpatient SUD treatment focus and reliance on payer contracting strategies to scale across states.
- Crossroads Treatment Centers: Multi-state outpatient opioid treatment program operator. Comparable to ARS in its outpatient SUD focus, multi-state rollout strategy, and payer contracting-driven growth approach.
Others
- Signet Healthcare Partners: Healthcare-focused investment and advisory firm operating in the specialty pharma and services space. Comparable as an adjacent capital and strategic advisory participant in healthcare services transactions relevant to ARS's investor/developer and turnaround engagements.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ascension social profiles
Digital presenceAscension financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ascension leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Ascension funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ascension M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ascension
What does Ascension do?
Ascension Recovery Services (ARS) operates as the nation's first Substance Use Disorder Management Services Organization (SUD-MSO), providing end-to-end behavioral health program development and management services. The company helps partners conceptualize, launch, and operate substance use disorder treatment programs spanning the full continuum of care, including detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, general outpatient, and sober living, by integrating capital planning, facility development, licensure and accreditation, staffing, payer contracting, marketing, and ongoing operational management.
Is Ascension a public or private company?
Ascension is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Ascension founded?
Ascension was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ascension based?
Ascension is headquartered in Morgantown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ascension make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Development Consulting is the primary driver. The others are operational Management Services and clinical Services.
Who are Ascension's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Acadia Healthcare and Universal Health Services (UHS) Behavioral Health Division. Direct peers are Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Pyramid Healthcare, Bradford Health Services and Caron Treatment Centers. Emerging players are BrightView Health, CleanSlate Centers and Crossroads Treatment Centers. Signet Healthcare Partners is listed as an others.
Does Ascension have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ascension.
What industry is Ascension in?
Ascension's product category is Behavioral Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFABAD, Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Programs, with a secondary code of HLAFACAE, Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab). Its NAICS code is 621420 and its SIC code is 8000.